The government has given its nod for ‘fresh-up’ centres exclusively for women at select locations in the city.
Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac told The Hindu on Wednesday that his department would soon give administrative sanction for the project conceived by the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC). The proposed facility will have properly maintained toilets, space for breastfeeding, relaxing areas, and a snack bar in a cosy environment.
“The project is being implemented in association with the Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE). Advertisements of the corporation will be displayed at the centres. The revenue earned from advertisements given by KSFE will be used for meeting the maintenance cost of the fresh-up centres,” he said.
The government had earmarked ₹8 crore for the Women’s Development Corporation in the State budget. In his budget speech, the Finance Minister said amenity centres, including toilets, would be set up jointly by the KSWDC, Kudumbasree and local self-government institutions.
The model adopted in the running of these centres would be for giving allowances to the sanitary workers employed in these centres in addition to the user fees collected, he said.
The government had set apart ₹10 crore for the project from the advertisement expenditure of Kerala Lottery. The fresh-up centres will be constructed at bus stands, railway stations, tourist centres and other important locations in Kochi. The fee for availing the services will be reasonable.
The KSWDC hopes the centres would also help women travellers get basic amenities while on the move. They need not wait in long queues as the fresh-up centres will offer a hassle-free environment. The focus is on providing clean and hygienic facilities for women.
The move to offer such a facility came after the government found that Kochi, which boasts of its rising profile as a metro, had serious gaps in its public health and sanitation mechanism. Many women had stayed away from using public comfort stations owing to the stench emanating from these units.
Lack of well-maintained public utilities had taken a toll on Kochi’s image as an expanding metro space. The city has less than 15 public comfort stations managed by the Kochi Corporation and the Greater Cochin Development Authority, with most of them lacking scientific treatment process and hygiene. Most of them had turned defunct owing to the lack of proper maintenance and support from the local bodies concerned. The KSWDC has plans to set up similar facilities across select cities in the State.